veggiehikertravel

Minneapolis

2011-10-05T22:06:00.003-06:00

Saturday the 3rd, a great day in Minneapolis.
We began with a wonderful morning at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, a fantastic museum with a huge Asian collection and some fabulous gallery spaces. Below I'm contemplating Yasumasa Morimura as Frida. Love. Our next stop was the delectable veggie Chinese restaurant Evergreen for take-out. We then met up with our friend Mike, a fellow IUC veteran, and spent the afternoon walking the Uptown neighborhood and the nearby lakes. After meeting up with his wife, we enjoyed a tasty meal downtown and drinks in the evening. So nice to see old friends!

On the road again...

2011-10-05T21:53:00.003-06:00

Labor Day weekend, headed north on I-35 to Minneapolis for a long weekend trip. While not the most eventful drive through Missouri and Iowa, the sunflowers were in full bloom all along the highway making for some beautiful late summer Midwestern scenery.

September!

2011-10-05T21:50:00.002-06:00

Since the end of August/beginning of September, things have been super hectic with work around here, so I'm behind on the daily photos. I've still been snapping, but haven't had the chance to post as frequently. In any case, September started on a regular Thursday with a common summer activity- backyard evening hoops.

Expressive Typography

2011-09-20T20:28:00.003-06:00

One interesting thing about teaching my Text and Image course in the Graphic Design building is seeing the student projects that adorn the public spaces of the hall. In particular, the 31st of August had some interesting expressive typography projects that reinforced our class discussion on semiotics.

Calligraphy

2011-09-20T20:25:00.002-06:00

Preparing my Wednesday lecture, thinking about Chinese Calligraphy and Zhao Zhiquian's Couplet of 1867.

Monday sunset

2011-09-20T20:22:00.000-06:00

Passing through the Plaza on the way home.

Waldo Fountain

2011-09-16T14:23:00.002-06:00

Last weekend of August, possibly the last chance to go play in the Waldo fountain.

Local Hiking

2011-09-16T14:19:00.004-06:00

Hiking out at the edge of the metro on a warm Saturday afternoon.

Antennas Up @ the Nerman

2011-09-16T14:16:00.003-06:00

Another free Friday concert at the Nerman, this time Antennas Up.

New Bag

2011-09-16T14:11:00.002-06:00

I finally got around to replacing my old computer bag. Over the course of last spring the handles began to fray, something which a friend told me was a sign I was working too hard, and which my adviser said was a sign that I was too busy to shop for a new one. I think both were/are true. After a long summer of not needing to cart my laptop around (I taught in a full media room for the summer term), I'm back to the necessary lugging of books/papers/grading/laptop, but at least I have a nice new internet-purchased bag to shuffle through it with me.

Back to KCAI

2011-09-15T20:18:00.001-06:00

First session of teaching night class for fall term at KCAI- Text and Image in East Asian Art History :)

Sunrise after the storm

2011-08-30T21:25:00.000-06:00

A beautiful Tuesday morning commute.

Bento

2011-08-30T21:23:00.001-06:00

Lunch at my desk on the first day of the fall term.

Veggie garden

2011-08-30T21:20:00.002-06:00

My own veggie garden as it recovers from the July heat wave- in the upcoming weeks (barring any weather disasters) we should have eggplants, tons of cherry tomatoes, a fair amount of sweet green and red peppers, and gobs of jalepenos and habaneros. Hard to believe that my tomato plants are almost as tall as me!

Summer sweet corn

2011-08-30T21:16:00.002-06:00

Fresh and local, the taste of summer sweet corn immediately after it's harvested and before the sugars turn is like nothing else, especially when grilled for a few minutes and dabbed with a hint of butter.

Friday evening in the garden

2011-08-30T21:14:00.001-06:00

After a few busy weeks of family visits, it was lovely to have Friday evening to relax at home in the garden.

Truly...

2011-08-30T21:08:00.001-06:00

Thursday August 18. A beautiful day, lunch with a friend, a celebrity spotting (saw Katie Perry on the Plaza- hilarious), and a lot of work done. Truly bliss.

Company

2011-08-30T21:06:00.001-06:00

We hosted dear friends for a simple Wednesday night dinner, and they were kind enough to bring beverages and fresh cut flowers. So sweet!

Nerman again....

2011-08-30T21:04:00.001-06:00

... this time I was at the Nerman on my own to view Leo Villareal in depth.

The last summer fun book

2011-08-30T20:56:00.003-06:00

The last summer fun book that I got in was The Wordy Shipmates by the ever hilarious and well-researched Sarah Vowell, who you may know from her frequent appearances on the Daily Show. The book recounted the saga of the Puritans and the Massachusetts Bay Colony, about whom much false information exists. Vowell does a fantastic job of keeping the topic light-hearted while providing great information and a realistic perspective on the founders of our nation.

Zoo again

2011-08-30T20:54:00.002-06:00

Another Sunday at the zoo, this time with the other set of grandparents. Little man got up close to the gorillas, I love this guy's chill pose.

Roxy Paine

2011-08-30T20:22:00.001-06:00

A Saturday morning visit to the Nelson-Atkins with Joe's family, we strolled the Sculpture Garden to view the new Roxy Paine, so striking!

Friday night

2011-08-30T20:21:00.001-06:00

Relaxing at home after dinner out with the other side of the family, who were in town for the weekend.

Hibachi

2011-08-30T20:16:00.002-06:00

Using our Groupon for Nikko, a hibachi-style Japanese restaurant out in the 'burbs. When I was a kid the t.v. commercials for Benihanna always drew me in, but it was I'm sure too expensive to take a kiddo, particularly a picky eater like myself. So, this was a childhood wish fulfilled. It was fun and kinda cheesy- the chef told jokes and tossed bites into our mouths. A good time, but probably something I don't need to do again soon.

Summer Tomatoes

2011-08-16T14:00:00.002-06:00

As I've said many times, one of the best parts of summer in the Midwest is the bounty of produce, especially summer tomatoes. The July heat wave made it difficult to grow tomatoes, but our local farmers manage to do what I can not, and the result was a fantastic Wednesday evening dinner. We combined heirloom tomatoes, garlic, basil, and fresh mozzerella over pasta with a glass of red wine, and a small loaf of fresh bread for the perfect patio meal.

The Nerman

2011-08-16T13:57:00.002-06:00

A Tuesday morning trip to the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art.

Morning Glories

2011-08-15T14:35:00.000-06:00

An invasive plant, but beautiful nonetheless.

Kansas City Zoo

2011-08-15T14:31:00.002-06:00

A trip to the zoo! I'm so happy that zoos are now focused on conservation and creating somewhat natural habitats for the animals, rather than the icky cages and exhibits of the mid-twentieth century. The KC zoo is pretty neat- we particularly enjoyed the polar bear, the lions, the hippos, and the baboons on a hot day, walking around the vast grounds in Swope Park.

Roasterie Tour!

2011-08-11T16:39:00.002-06:00

With my family in town we spent a lot of the weekend doing fun touristy things, like the Roasterie Roasting Tour on Saturday morning. This free tour informs visitors about coffee roasting, buying, trade, and history, as well as how to properly slurp coffee to get the most of your taste. Also- free coffee samples!

The Well

2011-08-11T16:33:00.003-06:00

Out for drinks late on a Friday night, we walked over to The Well. This is a place that I wouldn't consider going into during the winter (read: frat-boy lame-sauce crowd), but the rooftop bar is so lovely on a warm summer evening, torches going, drink in hand, watching the hilariousness that is Waldo, that it doesn't matter who the other patrons are.

Grading

2011-08-10T12:07:00.003-06:00

Thursday the 4th of August- the heat wave broke! A high of only 91! I took the opportunity to sit out on the terrace at the Roasterie Cafe, enjoying the weather and finishing up grading for my summer school course. Work bliss.

Coleus

2011-08-10T12:04:00.002-06:00

I've posted a lot of photos of the flowers in my garden this year, but some credit needs to go to the potted coleus that have graced our front porch throughout the July and August heat wave. Their foliage is reminiscent of a lush tropical look, and they have grown to be quite large in the height of summer.

Sunflowers and extreme heat

2011-08-10T12:00:00.002-06:00

Tuesday August 2- the high temperature was 109. The all-time temperature record for Kansas City is 113, so we were close, but missed the mark by a few degrees. Even the sunflowers weren't happy with such heat.

Rosemary Olive Oil Focaccia

2011-08-05T11:14:00.003-06:00

Fresh from the oven, best enjoyed hot and with a glass of wine. This was my first attempt at focaccia; it was surprisingly easy to bake from scratch, and with heavenly results.

Indian Creek Trail

2011-08-05T11:11:00.002-06:00

Despite continuing into the third week of suffocating temperatures, we took a walk on the Indian Creek Trail in south KC on the last Sunday morning of July. Hard to believe that just beyond the trees is the city....

Black-eyed Susans

2011-08-05T11:10:00.000-06:00

Dinner on the Plaza

2011-08-05T11:09:00.000-06:00

Friday night out!

Sayonara, Lara!

2011-08-05T11:05:00.003-06:00

Lara and the Strawberry Chiffon Cake I baked to celebrate/mourn her departure from Kansas City and KU. So sad to see you go!

The Hill

2011-08-05T11:02:00.003-06:00

As summer school winds down, the view from near KU's Watson Library, looking south across the valley. Wednesday the 27th was my last day of teaching Eastern Civ, as Thursday was review day and Friday the final exam.

Sunflowers

2011-08-05T11:01:00.001-06:00

One of the few plants that thrives in an extended heat wave and dry spell...

Summer reading continues...

2011-08-05T10:57:00.002-06:00

On Monday the 26th I finished the next book on my summer fun reading list, My Korean Deli: Risking it All For a Convenience Store. This was a great summer read (thanks NPR!)- fast to get through, witty, and a nice commentary on humanity, despite some bumps along the way. Highly recommended!

Jules Olitski at the Kemper

2011-08-02T09:51:00.003-06:00

July 24 was yet another day of heat warnings and high temperatures, so we spent part of the afternoon at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, viewing the current exhibition of paintings by Jules Olitski.

Le Bon Vivant

2011-08-02T09:47:00.002-06:00

Saturday evening, relaxing in the garden.

Bela Fleck and the Original Flecktones

2011-08-01T21:49:00.002-06:00

Friday night at the Crossroads, Bela Fleck and the Original Flecktones!!

Yum.

2011-08-01T21:45:00.001-06:00

Too hot to cook, we got take out salads from Ingredient on the Plaza, and the sparkles on this beautiful Carrot Cake Cupcake were too good to pass up. Yum!

Workin'

2011-08-01T21:41:00.001-06:00

As the first deadline for my summer freelance project approaches, the pile of books on my desk grows taller....

Hibiscus

2011-08-01T21:38:00.000-06:00

Nihon ryori

2011-08-01T21:30:00.003-06:00

Monday night simple homemade Japanese dinner. From the top- Sake, Salad with Soy Ginger Vinaigrette, Japanese Pickles, Zaru Soba (cold soba noodles topped with nori (toasted seaweed) and dipped in soy-based sauce), and Stir-fried Tofu and Veggies. おいしかった！

Hot afternoon on the Plaza

2011-08-01T21:27:00.001-06:00

July 17, the heat wave continues....

Meow

2011-08-01T21:26:00.000-06:00

Lounging in the sun on my desk....

Chips and Salsa

2011-08-01T21:20:00.003-06:00

Entering the imitative behavior stage of toddler-hood provides for a lot of cute scenarios. For example, anyone who knows Joe knows that he eats chips and salsa daily. So when we had dinner at Jalepeno's in Brookside, it shouldn't have taken us by surprise when little man jumped in and hit the salsa, copying the behavior that he sees his Dad perform every day.

Puffy summer clouds

2011-08-01T12:38:00.001-06:00

Despite the heat, an idyllic afternoon commute home.

Aubergine fleur

2011-08-01T12:32:00.002-06:00

Also known as the flower of the eggplant.

Power outage

2011-08-01T12:30:00.001-06:00

Not much to do without electricity, so we watched the lightning and rain for a bit. Thankfully the power came back in the middle of the night, but with such hot temperatures it wasn't without a bit of discomfort. Let's all give a little thanks to the air conditioning gods.

Hot

2011-08-01T12:25:00.002-06:00

July 11, 5 p.m., 104 temperature. Ugh. The best part about this photo is that no matter what I try, blogger refuses to post it right-side-up. Posting retrospectively after three weeks of crazy heat wave and going into our 11th day of temperatures over 100, I get it. Everything is too hot to function, trees are wilting, bushes are crisping up, so it makes sense that the temperature just flip on its head for a bit. Seems to be representative of the awful climate change induced weather we've experienced this year.

Nelson-Atkins

2011-08-01T12:06:00.003-06:00

July 10 brought temperatures over 100 degrees to Kansas City, so we spent the afternoon in the cool galleries of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. One fantastic thing about KC is that the major art museums, such as the Nelson, Kemper, and Nerman are free, no $18 admission like at the Art Institute in Chicago or $25 like MoMA in New York. The Nelson has an amazing comprehensive collection, particularly in Chinese art, and it's fantastic that we can pop in whenever the mood strikes, not worrying about high admission costs.

Echinacea

2011-08-01T12:04:00.001-06:00

A true sign of mid-summer.

Hearts of Darkness

2011-07-25T13:16:00.003-06:00

Friday the 8th of July brought beautiful weather to KC, as well as a free show by the fantastic Afrofunk band Hearts of Darnkess on the lawn of the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, out in the suburbs. We enjoyed a Thai take-out picnic, and had a great time lounging on the lawn, but perhaps the best part was when little man was dancing and then received a spontaneous hug from another dancing toddler. Too funny!

Daylilies in the garden

2011-07-25T13:11:00.000-06:00

Birthday!

2011-07-25T12:57:00.002-06:00

Wednesday the 6th was Joe's birthday (I won't say how many he has now celebrated...). We enjoyed an evening out in KC, starting at the fantastic bar at Pierpont's at Union Station. The station itself is a holdover from a more elegant era- the gorgeous interior space of the station is inspiring, and rouses a longing for a time when travel was elegant and when the U.S. had a real transportation system. I never get this feeling from the cramped and plain airports that we use today, and car travel on our crumbling infrastructure is simply ridiculous (see my post from four days prior). One can still take the train from Union Station, but it is slow, expensive, and inefficient. For example, to travel to Chicago via train is more costly than flying, takes longer than driving, and travelers only have the option to leave two times a day. That and the Amtrak trains that I see pulling out of the station appear to be of the same era as the station itself- pre-World War II. As a result of the decreased use of the station for transportation the city has tried to place a variety of tourist attractions in the station building, some with more success than others. While I'm not excited about the type of exhibits they bring in (Princess Diana's stuff, Motorcycles, etc.), I do love Pierpont's, which is located in a corner of the station. I haven't eaten in the restaurant itself, but the bar is beautiful, and the service on Joe's birthday was fantastic.

Back to KC

2011-07-25T12:55:00.001-06:00

A distant view of Kansas City as we passed over the Missouri River on our way home from a great holiday weekend in Chicago.

4th of July

2011-07-25T12:53:00.001-06:00

What else to do but go watch some fireworks?

Holiday weekend continued...

2011-07-25T12:46:00.004-06:00

On July 3rd, we enjoyed so many things, it was hard to select a single photo. We ventured to Mitsuwa, the huge Japanese market in the Chicago suburbs, where we picked up some hard to find Japanese groceries and had lunch, we had a fabulous afternoon garden party with friends and family, some of whom we hadn't seen in years, and we saw Mark Farina (with a few other great djs) late night in the city (below). A perfect day! :)

Taste of Chicago

2011-07-11T12:21:00.003-06:00

I took this photo waiting for our friend Shana on the steps of the Art Institute, and before we all indulged in a sampling of food at the Taste of Chicago for lunch. We enjoyed everything from vegetarian "chicken" wings to frozen cheesecake dipped in chocolate and served on a stick to mango dusted fries with chutney dipping sauce.

Transportation fail

2011-07-11T12:15:00.002-06:00

We spent the afternoon, evening, and into the night on July 1 driving from Kansas City to Chicago. What would be a 4 hour bullet train ride in Europe, Japan, or China, became a 10+ hour drive through America's crumbling infrastructure. We hit traffic, construction, and even a 12 minute wait at a tollbooth (at midnight!) on our drive. I will never understand why Americans are so car-obsessed; if we had a real train system we could have relaxed on our trip, moved around at our leisure, and had a much safer journey. Instead we were subject to the poor driving of others, stuck in a seat, and forced to pollute at a much higher rate.

Stir

2011-06-30T21:10:00.001-06:00

Interesting graffiti spotted along Edgehill Drive, near the KU campus in Lawrence. Signed STIR.

Kansas City Shakespeare Festival

2011-06-30T21:01:00.003-06:00

We spent a hot Wednesday evening at Southmoreland Park to attend the 19th annual Heart of America Shakespeare Festival and watch their production of Macbeth. It was great fun to sit on a blanket, snacking and drinking wine and watching a great production. The witches, Lady Macbeth, and Macduff were fabulously performed, and the costuming, particularly the use of tattoos, was fantastic.

Genghis Kahn

2011-06-30T20:55:00.003-06:00

On Tuesday I finished the second book on my summer fun reading list, Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World. This was basically a history of the Mongolian Empire in the 12th-14th centuries, as it rose under Genghis Khan, and then how power was divided and governance executed under his grandson Kublai Khan. Written in an engaging style, this was a fantastic summer read, and a great book for helping one to understand the global changes of the early modern era, as well as for understanding the widely misinterpreted Mongol culture and Empire.

Strong Hall

2011-06-30T20:50:00.002-06:00

One of my favorite buildings at KU is Strong Hall, which mostly houses administrative offices. The 1920s style and the old-school Jayhawk have such a great academic style.

Zinnias

2011-06-30T20:49:00.001-06:00

Had so much fun on Sunday that I forgot to take photos.....

Dragon Boat Festival

2011-06-30T15:04:00.002-06:00

Saturday morning brought storms, but luckily the weather cleared up for the annual Dragon Boat Festival on Brush Creek, near the Plaza. The ancient Chinese festival is celebrated by racing boats, complete with a drummer to keep the rowers in time, and eating traditional foods. The Kansas City version also includes cultural performances, food vendors, kids activities, and trinket vendors. We watched a few of the dance performances, but mostly hung out by the creek watching the boats race back and forth and enjoying the cool weather.

Cubs-Royals

2011-06-27T15:47:00.001-06:00

Friday night brought the Cubs to Kansas City for inter-league play. We had a great time watching the Cubs win 6-4 at the K, and also enjoyed a great post-game fireworks show. There seemed to be as many Chicago fans as KC fans!

Rose of Sharon

2011-06-27T15:46:00.000-06:00

First week of summer!

Spinning

2011-06-27T15:45:00.000-06:00

Wednesday evening cycle class at the Y. Yes.

Happy Hour

2011-06-23T13:30:00.000-06:00

Gin and Tonics on the patio with Lara!

Summer Cooking

2011-06-23T13:27:00.002-06:00

I love cooking in summer, using fresh veggies from the market and herbs and veggies from the yard. On Monday we made a quick evening meal of Grilled Eggplant with Roasted Red Peppers, Olives, Feta, and Oregano, served over Angel Hair Pasta, and accompanied by a simple salad.

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-22T15:45:00.004-06:00

We celebrated the day with an amazing brunch at Beer Kitchen in Westport where we enjoyed Mimosas and Bloody Marys (respectively), Vegetarian Biscuits and Gravy, an excellent Bavarian Apple Dutch Baby (with Rosemary Honey!), and Drunken Doughnuts, which were powdered sugar doughnut holes dipped in grand marnier hot chocolate. Shout out to all the great dads, especially to Joe and Tom, you guys rock!

Camping

2011-06-22T15:41:00.002-06:00

The lovely view from our campsite on Saturday morning. It rained overnight on Friday, and with everything being so damp we opted out of our plan to go hiking, deciding to have a leisurely morning at our site instead, enjoying a small campfire along with breakfast and coffee.

Wallace State Park

2011-06-22T15:38:00.002-06:00

Camping on a hot Friday night at the fantastic Wallace State Park, about an hour north of Kansas City.

Stormy day...

2011-06-22T15:36:00.001-06:00

... and I forgot my umbrella. It was still nice to watch the clouds from the union as I ate a late lunch.

Old Crow Medicine Show

2011-06-20T14:38:00.002-06:00

A Wednesday night show with the fantastic bluegrass band Old Crow Medicine Show at one of the best outdoor venues anywhere, the Crossroads.

Matcha Frappuccino

2011-06-20T14:31:00.002-06:00

It was a year ago this week (June 18 to be precise) that we moved back to the States from Japan, and this is the first summer since 2005 that I'm not in Japan, so I've been feeling a little nostalgic for times past. As a result, on Tuesday I decided to pop into Starbucks on my way home to get a Matcha Frappuccino like I used to study with in Yokohama.

The Office

2011-06-15T13:07:00.002-06:00

I usually share my office with a few other instructors, but have it to myself for the summer. This is sad because there are no baked goods or people to joke around with, but happy because I can get lots done and listen to music on the computer speakers instead of headphones.

Banana Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

2011-06-13T14:24:00.002-06:00

Continuing to use up the glut of bananas, I made banana cupcakes on Sunday and frosted them with a peanut butter frosting, dusted with grated coconut for texture. Yummmmmm.

Fresh juice

2011-06-13T14:22:00.001-06:00

Carrot-apple-beet-ginger juice, made fresh at home and enjoyed for breakfast in the garden on a cool Saturday morning.

Lily

2011-06-13T14:21:00.000-06:00

Friday brought lots of rain, but the lilies in the garden didn't seem to mind.

Banana bread

2011-06-13T14:16:00.002-06:00

We had an excess of bananas in the house, a few of which were starting to turn brown, so I made a quick banana bread on Thursday evening. The recipe was from my favorite baking reference, the Martha Stewart Baking Handbook, and included crushed walnuts and shredded coconut, which was a great addition.

Hydrangea

2011-06-13T14:15:00.001-06:00

The giant hydrangea bush in our yard, which provides for lots of cut flowers around the house.

A quiet campus

2011-06-13T14:13:00.001-06:00

First day of teaching summer school on a very quiet KU campus.

Garden

2011-06-13T14:10:00.002-06:00

Despite the heat advisory, I spent Monday the 6th working in the garden. I'm using a no till method on the vegetable garden this year, so we'll see how that works. I'm hoping to have a nice crop of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants soon!

On the wall

2011-06-13T14:05:00.002-06:00

We spent some time on Sunday the 5th working on hanging art on the walls. This particular print makes me smile when I think of purchasing it in Kyoto on Joe's first trip there, right after we visited Ryoanji. It's hard to believe that this is the first summer since 2005 that I'm not in Japan....

Royals-Twins

2011-06-13T13:59:00.002-06:00

Saturday evening was spent with the fam out at Kauffman Stadium to see the Royals play the Twins. Despite the Royals loss, we had fun letting the kiddo play in the outfield kids area and watching the general theatre of an MLB game. The best part of this game, however, was not the thrill of the crowd or the free bobbleheads we received at the door, but rather the discovery of vegetarian hot dogs at one of the concession stands on the main level. VEGGIE HOT DOGS! Thank you Royals, for thinking of all of your fans. So exciting!!

Back to the Farm

2011-06-13T13:56:00.003-06:00

After returning from Wichita, I had the afternoon off and my family was in town, so we decided to take little man out to the children's farm for an afternoon of feeding the goats and gazing at the ducks.

Wichita

2011-06-10T14:30:00.002-06:00

I spent Thursday the 2nd of June in Wichita, working on a freelance project I'm doing for the Ulrich Museum of Art at Wichita State University, and also visiting with my pal Emily.

KC

2011-06-10T14:29:00.000-06:00

Walking to catch the bus.

Returning home

2011-06-10T14:28:00.001-06:00

Driving through the Ozarks on our way home from a great long weekend trip.

Memphis

2011-06-09T15:28:00.003-06:00

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We began Memorial Day at the former site of Stax Records, now the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. This was a great museum and a pilgrimage site for Joe. The museum included lots of neat exhibits on the evolution of soul music and Stax, as well as some crazy objects; one of the best was Issac Hays' Cadillac from the post-Shaft era, all the parts that would have been chrome were 24-carat gold, it had a fridge in the back and a t.v. in the front, and the floor was covered in white shag. To top it off, the car rotated beneath a disco ball. For musicians like Joe the re-created recording space was more of a draw, but for visual people like me, the costumes and objects were amazing.
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We continued our day by heading downtown for lunch at the Flying Fish, a great place to indulge in Southern-style (read: fried) food. They even had fried chocolate pie, which I have to admit, was pretty tasty.
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Lunch time. The Flying Fish also had a wall of Billy Bass plaques. Interesting.
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After lunch we walked over to Beale Street, where we saw some live blues on the street and enjoyed some people watching.
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The last stop of the day was Graceland.
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While we found the ticket prices quite expensive, the mansion was well preserved, and the audio tour had interesting insights into life at Graceland.
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Kitsch? Yes! The media room in the basement and the exhibition of costumes was fascinating, as was the narrative presented in the audio tour.
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Elvis's grave, at Graceland.
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One last meal of Southern food, at Soul Fish in Midtown, before heading back to the hotel for some swimming.
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Oxford, Mississippi

2011-06-09T15:12:00.004-06:00

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We spent Saturday the 29th on a day trip from Memphis down to Oxford, Mississippi, home to Ol' Miss (University of Mississippi). The small town square had a variety of restaurants and shops, very few of which were open on Sunday. We also learned that restaurants can't serve alcohol on Sunday in the state. The fantastic independent Square Books was open, and we spent a while wandering the shop, which ranks as one of the best bookshops in the nation.
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The courthouse at the center of the Square.
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The Mississippi state flag. We saw at least three Confederate memorials and a few Confederate flags during our day. We also sampled grits, which I liked but Joe didn't care for, and drank sweet tea, which was appallingly sweet.
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We continued the literary theme of the day at Rowan Oak, an 1840s house that was home to William Faulkner in the mid-twentieth century.
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In the afternoon we took a drive to Alabama, the 49th state that I have visited!
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Road Trip!!

2011-06-08T15:09:00.003-06:00

Headed down south for Memorial Day weekend, we spent Saturday May 28 driving across Missouri and Arkansas, arriving in Memphis in the early evening. We stopped in Columbia, Missouri for a picnic lunch of Main Squeeze at Mizzou (University of Missouri).

Goodbye, peacocks

2011-06-08T15:06:00.001-06:00

A tribute to the old dining room wallpaper, which is no longer.